Fred D. Thompson, the actor and former Tennessee senator, is about to take a big step toward a formal presidential campaign, a move that will shake up the already unsettled Republican field and throw a wild card into the competition for the GOP’s conservative core.

Thompson this week asked supporters to begin collecting campaign donations June 4, after he files papers with the Federal Election Commission to establish a political committee to “test the waters” for a White House bid.

Thompson asked Wednesday to be released from the show after five seasons, series creator and executive producer Dick Wolf said.

“Although he told me he has not made a firm decision about his political future, he felt that given the creative and scheduling constraints of the upcoming season” he should leave “Law & Order,” Wolf said in a statement.

His moves come as Republicans have failed to coalesce around a candidate, as they struggle with the war in Iraq, President Bushâ€™s unpopularity and questions about the partyâ€™s ideological direction. That has created a potential opening in a campaign field that, judging by polls and other reaction, has left Republican voters wanting more.

â€œThompson is a credible conservative, he has a strong voting record, he has strong, almost Reagan-esque communication skills,â€ said Scott Reed, who managed the presidential campaign of the Republican Bob Dole in 1996 and is unaffiliated with any campaigns. â€œAnd like Reagan, he believes in an ideological agenda in an undiluted way. He doesnâ€™t have a bunch of qualifiers on things when he defends the Reagan years.â€

I don’t know much about Thompson’s politics, but based on this YouTube statement to Michael Moore, I like Fred Thompson:

Will he actually run? Will people vote for Fred Thompson? Could Fred Thompson the second-coming of Ronald Reagan? Will Law & Order’s ratings drop? I don’t know. What I do know is this already interesting presidential race just got more interesting.

One Response to “Former Senator and TV Actor Fred Thompson Running for President”

Thompson is on my short list so I’m looking forward to this:
Thompson’s formal announcement is planned for Nashville. Organizers say the red pickup truck that was a hallmark of Thompson’s first Senate race will begin showing up in Iow…